How Physiotherapy Helps Golfers' Injuries

The spring sports season is approaching, and you are all excited about starting your favorite game of golf.

Whenever you start a sport after a gap, there are risks of sports injuries.

Preseason strength training and conditioning are essential to make sure that the body has the required flexibility for the game.

Also, it is essential to prevent tears in ligaments and muscles, especially of the shoulder and elbow.

With the right preparation, you can make sure that you have a smooth golfing season.

Physiotherapy helps a great deal in restoring flexibility, strength, and range of motion.

It strengthens the muscles around your shoulder and elbow- the most commonly affected joints for golf players.

It helps reduce the probability of mishappenings by more than 75%. 

The chief sports trainer at Goodwill Therapy says,” Whether you are young or old, whatever your lifestyle and physical activities are, you should never ignore the pain in the shoulder or elbow as any other. 

And if you are a golfer, you should be extra vigilant.”

Common Shoulder Injuries In Golfers

Shoulder Dislocation– golf players swing their arms persistently at a high level, causing dislocation of the shoulder joint.

Separation– separation of the ball and socket 

Tendinitis – inflammation of tendons

Rotator cuff injury– damage to the tendons control the femur & joint

Common Elbow Injuries In Golfers 

Lateral Epicondylitis- commonly known as tennis or golfers elbow.

Elbow joint is the most used joint in the body anyway. So it is much more utilized during golf.  It is caused by the inflammation of the tendons on the lower arm, causing pain while playing and also at rest in acute cases.

Increasingly, the percentage of non-tennis players getting a tennis elbow is more than tennis players!

Bursitis — accumulation of fluid inside the elbow joint

Cubital tunnel syndrome — nerve problem in the elbow

How does Physiotherapy help?

Despite all precautions, if you develop tennis elbow or shoulder problems, you can rely on your physical therapist to formulate a treatment program specific to your condition. The main objectives are-

Relieving Pain – Your therapist at Goodwill therapy & Massage will examine and advice you to avoid certain movements. Resting the inflamed tendons stimulates healing.

Along with that, he may suggest ice packs, compression, or wet heat. Ultrasound, iontophoresis, splitting, and bracing are also helpful in improving pain symptoms. 

Manual therapy – Manual techniques of physiotherapy are very effective in easing pain and stimulating the healing process. These methods rejuvenate the muscles around the joint.

We use gentle joint movements, soft tissue massage, and elbow forearm and wrist stretch to mobilize the muscles. For the shoulder and thoracic spine, manual stretching techniques are very powerful for regaining movement.

ROM Exercises – Special mobility exercises that you will do with your therapist and also on your own to conserve and regain the required range of motion for your game. 

Strengthening exercises – After your pain relieves to a good extent, we discern which exercises are beneficial in your particular condition.

Doing these every day and later at home, will help sustain your arm, forearm, elbow, and hand strength in case of epicondylitis.

These involve muscle contraction exercises( isometric) and resistance exercises such as weights, balls, elastic bands, etc. that activate the weaker muscles. 

Also Read: Treat Your Tennis Elbow With Acupuncture.

How can a Physio Help in Shoulder Sports Injury?

Shoulder malfunction is an intricate set of conditions that require an individually customized management strategy.

Physiotherapists are well versed in utilizing this approach of strengthening, taping, manual therapy, soft tissue release & theraband workout, and soft tissue release. 

We guide you to do the appropriate exercises and combine them with manual therapy & soft tissue releases.

We also counsel the patient to understand the responsible factors so that they can modify their warm-up or workout plans, improve pain and recover fast.

After the initial stages of pain reduction and joint strengthening, the next phase of rehabilitation is ensued.  

It has advanced strengthening, power, and plyometric work.

The rotator cuff and stabilizing muscles of the shoulder blades require comprehensive management to ensure a return to your favorite sport of golf or tennis.

Alterations done in your golf swing or throwing process etc helps reduce pressure on the delicate tendons and ligaments.

The final stage of functional training is aimed at returning you to your previous level of strength and mobility. Depending on your personal goals, your physical therapist would teach you special exercises.

Take Care

If you suffer from severe shoulder and elbow pain, you may need to discontinue your sports activity. 

Physical therapists are experts in stipulating pain management, eliminating the need for medication, and returning you to the field sooner with the required strength. 

Depending on the reason, some injuries can be managed by conventional physical therapy or NSAIDs.

However, some injuries may require minimally invasive procedures.

Get it evaluated with us by contacting Goodwill Physiotherapy & Massage.